Transform Your Garden Borders with GardenAdvice
Garden Border being developed by the GardenAdvice Team in Belper near Derby
Creating or restoring a beautiful garden doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. At GardenAdvice, we make the process simple and enjoyable with our One Day Gardening Course and Border Design Service. Whether you want to learn hands-on gardening techniques or prefer an expert plan tailored to your space, we’ll help you bring colour, structure, and health back to your borders.
Some Of The Plants We Added to This Border
Here are a few of the plants we introduced, each chosen for its colour, texture, and seasonal interest:
- Achillea millefolium ‘Lachsschonheit’ (3 L) A soft salmon-pink yarrow with flat-topped flowers, loved by pollinators and great for summer colour.
- Callicarpa bodinieri ‘Profusion’ (3 L) Known as the “beautyberry,” this shrub dazzles in autumn with clusters of bright purple berries.
- Caryopteris ‘Grand Bleu’ (3 L) A compact shrub with aromatic foliage and deep blue late-summer flowers, perfect for bees and butterflies.
- Penstemon ‘Rich Ruby’ (3 L) Produces abundant ruby-red tubular flowers over a long flowering season, adding richness and depth.
- Rudbeckia ‘Sunbeam SmileyZ’ (3 L)A cheerful perennial with bright yellow daisy-like blooms, bringing sunshine and vibrancy to late summer borders.
A Real-Life Example: Breathing Life into a Tired Flower Border
The border before we started to develop it with our client
Earlier this year, we started work on a border that many gardeners would recognise—containing a few perennial shrubs but lacking colour, structure, and seasonal interest. The plants had been neglected, and some were beginning to lose their shape and vigour.
Here’s how we approached it:
- Adding Colour with New Plants
To avoid long gaps with nothing in flower, we introduced carefully chosen plants to create interest across the seasons. By mixing perennials with shrubs, we achieved a border that now has continuous bursts of colour. - Feeding to Revive Growth
Many of the existing shrubs were struggling. With targeted feeding, especially balanced fertilizers, we encouraged healthier growth and improved flowering. - Pruning and Restoring Old Shrubs
The Escallonia in this border was a prime example. It had become woody and almost past saving. Using high-nitrogen feeds, we stimulated a flush of new shoots. Once that new growth was established, we pruned back to reshape the shrub. This technique not only improved its appearance but also set it up to produce more flowers in the coming years.
The result? A border that looked tired and uninspiring is now on its way to becoming a vibrant and colourful garden feature.
Learn These Skills Yourself
If you’d like to achieve the same results in your own garden, our One Day Gardening Course is the perfect place to start. The course is designed for all levels and covers:
- How to prune shrubs correctly for shape and flowering
- Choosing and planting for colour throughout the year
- Feeding and soil care to keep your plants healthy
- Border design principles you can apply immediately
It’s hands-on, practical, and confidence-building. You’ll leave with the knowledge to tackle your own borders successfully.
Or Let Us Design It for You
If you’d prefer professional guidance, our Border Design Service can do the hard work for you. We’ll create a planting plan that suits your garden’s size, conditions, and your personal style. Whether you want a gentle refresh or a complete redesign, our service ensures your garden is both beautiful and colorful
